hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Monk's Café Grand Cru

Tap to rate

A top-fermented old brown from Flanders, tank-aged and lean where you'd expect richness. The nose leads with caramel and dark balsamic vinegar, undercut by the vinous warmth of raisins. On the palate the tension between sweet and sour holds firm: enough acidity to keep the body from settling, enough malt backbone to stop it turning austere. Fresh and mildly tart throughout, with a clean finish. The carbonation stays restrained, letting the flavours breathe. A beer for the late evening.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Very bitter70 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber15
PaceA Few

AWARDS

World's best 'oud bruin' bier · 2019
World Beer Awards
Old Brown
Gold · 2025
Brussels Beer Challenge
★World's best 'oud bruin' bier — World Beer Awards (Old Brown)
★Gold — Brussels Beer Challenge
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelsourdark fruit
caramel
sour
dark fruit
malty
toasty
nutty
Aroma
The nose leads decisively with caramel sweetness and dark balsamic vinegar, creating a complex interplay of age and freshness.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Monk's Café Grand Cru

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to brown, clear and bright with good translucency. A modest, tight head forms and recedes quickly, leaving minimal lacing on the glass. Carbonation is visibly restrained, allowing the beer to sit quietly in the glass.

deep ambercleartight carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads decisively with caramel sweetness and dark balsamic vinegar, creating a complex interplay of age and freshness. Underneath sit vinous notes of raisin and dried fruit, warmed by fermentation heat, with a subtle malty undertone that grounds the profile without overwhelming.

caramelbalsamic vinegarraisinvinous

◐ Taste

The palate holds a striking tension between sweet malt backbone and clean acidity. Entry is soft and malty, mid-palate brings a gentle tartness and subtle dark-fruit character that prevents any heaviness. Bitterness registers at moderate levels—enough to define structure without dominance—while the body remains lean and refreshing rather than rich.

sweet-sour balancetart aciditylean body

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and slightly dry, with lingering acidity and a whisper of dark fruit. No harsh edges or oxidative notes—only a measured fade that invites another sip.

cleanslightly dry
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
78
Finish
80
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Monk's Café Grand Cru

More from Brouwerij Van Steenberge

1784 Schelfaut Export
Baptist Blond
Baptist Blond
Belgian Blonde Ale
5%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Bornem Tripel
Bornem Tripel
Belgian Tripel
9%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Gentse Tripel
Gentse Tripel
Belgian Tripel
8%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Gulden Draak
Gulden Draak
Belgian Ale
10.5%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →

About Brown Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Brown Ale?

Brown Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Brown Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same caramel, sour, sweet character as Monk's Café Grand Cru will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

FEATURED IN

Compare with another beer →